HP 3PAR VMware ESX Implementation Guide

the provisioning of VMs. This offloads some of the file space zeroing functions to the storage
array.
• Hardware Assisted Locking (ATS) provides an alternative to SCSI reservations as a means to
protect the metadata for VMFS cluster file systems and helps improve the scalability of large
ESX host farms sharing a datastore.
HP 3PAR VAAI Plugin 1.1.1 for ESX 4.1
Support for VMware VAAI functionality is available by installing the HP 3PAR VAAI Plugin 1.1.1
on ESX/ESXi 4.1 with HP 3PAR HP 3PAR OS version 2.3.1 MU2 (minimum).
For further information on VMware VAAI, the HP 3PAR VAAI Plugin for ESX/ESXi 4.1 installation
package, and the HP 3PAR VAAI Plug-in 1.1.1 for VMware vSphere 4.1 User's Guide, see the:HP
Software Depot
NOTE: There is an HP 3PAR VAAI plugin v1.1.1 limitation in which VAAI Full Copy (XCOPY)
does not function, and data copy processes are not offloaded to the array, as of HP 3PAR OS
3.1.2 using 16-byte volume WWNs.
HP 3PAR VAAI Plugin 2.2.0 for ESXi 5.x
Install the HP 3PAR VAAI Plug-in 2.2.0 on ESXi 5.x if the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage HP 3PAR
OS is 2.3.1 MU2 or a higher version of HP 3PAR OS 2.3.1, to take advantage of the storage
array primitives or hardware offloads (mainly XCOPY, Write-Same, and ATS).
Do not install the HP 3PAR VAAI Plug-in 2.2.0 on the ESXi 5.x if it is connected to an HP 3PAR
StoreServ Storage running HP 3PAR OS 3.1.1 or later. The VAAI primitives are handled by the
default T10 VMware plug-in do not require the HP 3PAR VAAI plug-in.
The following table summarizes the HP 3PAR VAAI Plug-in installation requirements.
Table 2 HP 3PAR VAAI Plugin Installation Requirements
ESXi 5.xESXi 5.xESX 4.1ESX 4.1VMware ESX
Features/Primitives
HP 3PAR OS 3.1.1 or
later
HP 3PAR OS 2.3.1 MU2
or later
HP 3PAR OS 3.1.1 or
later
HP 3PAR OS 2.3.1 MU2
or later
Supported. Does not
require HP 3PAR VAAI
Requires HP 3PAR VAAI
2.2.0 plugin
Requires HP 3PAR
VAAI 1.1.1 plugin
Requires HP 3PAR VAAI
1.1.1 plugin
ATS
XCOPY
plugin (supported by
Standard T10 ESX
plugin).
WRITE_SAME
NOTE: The HP 3PAR VAAI Plug-in 2.2.0 is required if the ESXi 5.x server is connected to two or
more arrays that are running a mix of OS HP 3PAR OS 2.3.1.x and OS 3.1.x. For LUNs on
HP 3PAR OS 3.1.x, the default VMware T10 plug-in will be effective, and for storage LUNs on
HP 3PAR OS 2.3.x, HP 3PAR VAAI Plug-in 2.2.0 will be effective.
For more information, see the HP 3PAR VAAI Plug-in Software for VMware vSphere User's Guide
(HP part number QL226-96072).
To download the HP 3PAR VAAI Plug-in software, go to:
HP Software Depot
UNMAP (Space Reclaim) Storage Hardware Support for ESXi 5.x
HP 3PAR OS 3.1.1 or later supports the UNMAP storage primitive for space reclaim, which is
supported starting with ESXi 5.0 Update 1 with default VMware T10 VAAI plug-in. Installation of
the HP 3PAR VAAI plugin is not required.
ESX/ESXi 4.1, ESXi 5.x Additional Feature Considerations 51